I was born under the sign of Pisces, so being on water is very prominent in my life
Growing up on a farm in the Lancashire countryside near the Lancaster canal gave me the opportunity to own a boat from a young age. Starting with a canoe, then a dinghy and onto a small cruiser, earning the money from our local boatyard cleaning and helping repair and maintain boats, it was a great time.
As a teenager I joined the Ocean Youth Club and spend my summer holidays sailing out of Ramsgate to France and other European destinations.
My first proper sailing yacht was a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 24 foot called ‘Twilight II’ which I kept on Windermere. Sailing gave me a great source of escapism from my then hectic career in the motor trade. Whilst, when I bought Sail ‘n’ Dine, I was a competent sailor, I didn’t have any sailing qualifications, so I studied for 3 years at night school. Having the yacht allowed me to put everything I learned into practice and start my dream job taking people sailing.
I guess my love of food and cooking comes from my farming background, local seasonal produce, a Mum who can cook just about anything and an AGA cooker……say no more!
In 2008 I upgraded the little yacht to ‘Maddie Too‘, handed in my notice at work and made sailing (and cooking) my career.
Qualifications:
RYA Dayskipper shorebased
RYA /MCA Shorebased Coastal skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore
ICC (International certificate of competence)
SLDC Full lake boatmans licence
STCW First aid
Level 2 award in food safety in catering
